Last Existence: Princely Life; female figures

Relief with two superimposed registers, the lower depicting two scenes from the Princely Life, the upper showing a row of female busts. The two registers are separated by a chequered grid with alternating relief squares; a drape is carved on both extremities. The scenes on the lower registers are separated by framed semi-columns of the Gandharan-Corinthian type, the figures on the upper register by semi-columns of the same type, of which only the upper part are carved. The base is plain, the cornice consists of a projecting fillet above and a row of saw-teeth below. The back face shows horizontal marks of chisel. Two circular nail holes are drilled, one at the centre of the right lower scene, another between the two figures on the proper right side of the upper register. The first scene of the lower register shows the Wrestling Competition. Siddhārtha has to wrestle with other competitors to prove his worth. A male wrestling couple is depicted on each side. The figures wear a loincloth. In the center, a male figure is standing frontal. He is holding a flag in the left hand, the right is on his chin. He is dressed in a loincloth. The next scene depicts the Story of the White Elephant. Devadatta, Siddhārtha’s cousin, kills the state white elephant at the city gate of Kapilavastu, blocking the passage. After Ānanda’s unsuccessful attempt to throw the animal away, the Bodhisattva manages to hurl it out the city’s wall thanks to his physical strength. On the right, the elephant is entering from an architraved building door of the Western type. Next is Devadatta about to slap the animal with the right hand. He wears a paridhāna, an uttarīya, and a skull-cap turban. On the left, Siddhārtha is about to throw the animal away with the right hand. He is standing back-turned, the weight of his body is placed on his left leg. He is dressed in a sleeveless long tunic. Behind the elephant is a male figure standing frontal, probably Ānanda. His right hand is raised up and holds an indistinct object, the left is on the waist. He wears a paridhāna, an uttarīya, and a turban. In the upper register, four half-bust female couples are carved. The figures are facing each other. They all wear a long tunic and a large wreath.